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Five Minutes
by Estelle Greenberg

In the small co-operation house on the Mildew Estate at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Biggs, the table was set for the evening meal. It was full of good nourishing food. It had to be as there were a lot of hungry kids to feed. This was a big family and each one had to be looked after and fed daily. "How lucky we are" she thought. Tom had a good, steady job working on the buses as a driver. She knew it was very tiring and he needed his peace when he was at home. The hours were long and tedious but it brought in a steady income and in these difficult times of the Thirties she considered themselves fortunate. She had been working as a cleaner in a private house at Harewood but had given it up because a baby was expected very soon and the work had become too difficult for her. She was promised her job back after her delivery. Many a time her employer had given her things; food, clothes, even extra money and needless to say this was a big boon when you have so many little mouths to feed.

"Kids go and sit down at the table. I'll be serving the dinner soon. You know your places so no fighting, please". The words no sooner had left her mouth when she heard screaming and shouting.

"Gimme it, that's mine you know I only eat that part of the fish. Everyone has taken the tail end, and now none is left for me! Mam, mam" shrieked Mary and began to cry. Not an aggressive child she always resorted to tears.

"That scone is mine. I saw it first" shouted Gerry.

"Nooo, it isn't. It is mine." Joey picked it up and crushed it in his hand. "Ha, ha, now nobody will have it" and laughed his head off.

Dora began crying and hitting Joey. "You pig, you stinking pig. I'll get you for that. Gerry come on, lets get him, NOW" and Dora jumped and started fighting with Joey.

Before she could get a word in edgewise she heard a squeak. "Mam, mam he's taken some of my chips. Look, I've hardly any left" and tears filled the eyes of her sensitive, delicate son. His gray eyes filled with tears and he had such a pathetic look you'd think the world had collapsed. The noise was deafening. A proper bedlam had broken loose. It was driving her crazy. She couldn't remember when it had been like this and she herself was on the verge of tears.

"Tom, TOM!" she shouted at the top of her voice so she could be heard above the noise, turning to her husband for help. There he sat calmly reading the newspaper oblivious to all. Occasionally, he would raise his eyes but soon returned to his precious paper. "Tom! Put that damn newspaper down for cripes sake. The bleeding kids are out of control and I can't take it any more. So please DO something before I go crazy". Her voice sounded strained and tense and on the verge of tears. "You know I have the rest of the dinner to prepare and serve. I can't do everything bloody thing about this house."

Tom looked up surprised. He had never heard Emmy so upset and angry. It was strange for her as she was always so placid and able to manage everything. He put it down to her 'condition' heavily pregnant (any day now) and gave her an understanding smile. He had made a rule not to interfere with the handling of the children because she did a better job of it and was of course with them most of the time. His job kept him at work for long and late hours and he generally ate at the canteen for the workers. Food was nutritious and plentiful and best of all cheap. Apart from his days off he was mostly there. Today was the exception indeed. A stern look came over his face, putting the paper down he stood up and walked over to the table where the kids were sitting and fighting.

"Now then, what's going on? Enough of all this noise and fighting, sit down BE QUIET and let mam get on with serving the meal."

The kids looked at him with surprise on their faces. They couldn't remember when Dad had been so angry and stern. They stopped arguing and settled down like mice.

"Listen all of you, there is enough food for every one of you and we have to be grateful for that. Many people are going without their dinners so what I want all of you to do is to close your eyes, fold your hands and let us say a word of thanks to the good Lord for providing for us. Then you can go ahead and tuck in. Mam come and join us."

"Tom, thank you. I appreciate it" and kissed him. "Forgive me for my outburst. I was so upset and irritated by the kids and their behavior. It will be fine now. Betty, be a good girl and give mam a hand. You too Jack" and Dad sat down with the kids.

"Whew! That's done and the kids settled for the evening. The dirty dishes were piled up in the kitchen sink waiting to be done but Emmy sat down exhausted. It had been just a little too much for her. "Five minutes, that's all I need. 5 minutes rest and then I'll get back to the grindstone. Oh wouldn't it be wonderful to get a way from all this just for a week. But she knew it was wishful thinking and so she plopped herself down near the fire for 5 minutes and drank her cup of tea.



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